PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s unemployment rate continued to fall in March, declining two-tenths of a percentage point to 11 percent, as the state picked up 1,000 jobs for the month, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said on Friday.
The drop eclipsed the national jobless rate decline of one-tenth of a percentage point for the month. The U.S. rate stood at 8.8 percent at the end of March. In Massachusetts, the unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point to 8 percent.
Rhode Island’s net gain of 1,000 jobs boosts the state’s nonfarm payrolls to 460,200 in March. It was the second consecutive monthly gain for the state. As of March, Rhode Island had 1,900 jobs than it had a year ago, when unemployment was 11.8 percent.
The number of unemployed residents – those classified as available for work and actively seeking employment – sank by 1,100 in March to 63,000. At the same time, the state’s labor force declined by 1,900 for the month to 571,900, down 3,400 from the March 2010 figures.
Also, the number of employed Rhode Island residents decreased by 900 in March to 508,900. Despite the drop, the figure still represented an increase of 1,400 from the year-earlier figures.
The average weekly claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 1,633 to 39,341 in March, down 4 percent from February. That figure differs from the total number of unemployed because of eligibility restrictions.
The DLT said the accommodation and food services sector saw the biggest gain for the month, adding 600 jobs, mostly at restaurants. Financial activities picked up 400 positions because of increases in rental and leasing services.
Gains also came in “other services” (300), wholesale trade (200), health care and social assistance (200), information (100), arts, entertainment and recreation (100), and natural, resources and mining (100).
Educational services shed 500 jobs in March, mainly due to cut backs at private colleges, universities and schools, the DLT said. Also posting losses were professional and business services (300), construction (100) and government (100).
Employment in the retail, trade, manufacturing, transportation and utilities sectors was unchanged for the month.
Manufacturing-production workers in Rhode Island earned an average hourly wage of $15.12 in March, up 16 cents from February and up 54 cents from a year earlier.
The state’s average manufacturing work week in February was 38.7 hours, up six-tenths of an hour from January and up a half point from last year, DLT said.
People are either leaving the state or their benefits are running out and they aren’t being counted anymore.
“the number of employed Rhode Island residents decreased by 900 in March”
” At the same time, the state’s labor force declined by 1,900 for the month to 571,900,”
Hi, Jim. You make a very good point. In support, I say GOOD BYE! The jobs being created now are asking for folks with way more talent than some of these folks can provide. As we’ve seen, the recession is clearly over for college graduates. So, if those leaving the state ran out of unemployment beneifts, then they may not be able to take full advantage of the jobs being offered at some of the firms around here. It’s the college folks we need to focus on and create jobs for and retain. Unfortunately, a side effect of this process leaves a section of population that isn’t qualified to contribute to a qulity workforce may feelings the need to pursue a better life in areas that suit them better…like South Carolina or Florida.
Sorry, the last sentence is supposed to say “feeling the need to puruse a better life” not “may feelings…” I typed too fast.